Meet the birds: Learn about feathered friends while strolling around Whanganui's Virginia Lake

Ducks get in a row to see one of the information stations installed as part of a new Rotokawau discovery trail. Photo / Supplied

If you have ever visited Rotokawau Virginia Lake in Whanganui and wondered about the names of birdlife species there, wonder no more.

The walkway around the lake now has a discovery trail consisting of 12 beautifully illustrated stations with brief descriptions of the waterbirds that inhabit the lake area and, for the more curious, scanning the QR codes will lead to the New Zealand Birds Online site for more information.

The project was conceived by Peter Frost of Birds New Zealand and illustrator Desmond Bovey who approached Whanganui District Council senior parks manager Wendy Bainbridge to see if there was support for the idea.

Bainbridge was enthusiastic and contacted the Virginia Lake Trust which raised funding for the discovery trail and Resene ColorShop Whanganui also contributed to the cost.

"We are very pleased to see the project become a reality," Frost said.

"We had already done most of the planning and Des has been kind enough to do the illustrations for free."

As well as driving the project, Frost also donated his time by providing text for the signs.

The stations have been installed at strategic intervals around the lake to match the areas where the various species are most frequently seen.

Peter Frost (left) and Desmond Bovey with one of the new stations at the Virginia Lake discovery trail. Photo / Liz Wylie

Some of the three species of kawau (shags) that frequent the lake foiled the plan by moving from one side to the other while the signs were being installed.

"They decided to relocate but they can still be seen from most points around the lake," Frost said.

Bovey, an accomplished nature illustrator, said he enjoyed the project and his illustrations can also be found in the free companion guide brochure produced as part of the project.

"It is nice to work on local projects and it has been satisfying to see this one completed."

Last year he completed a wildlife poster and trail guide for Bushy Park Tarapuruhi.

The stations, assembled by Morrie Gibbons Signs of Whanganui, have been mounted on short posts to enable children to view them easily.

The Meet the Birds discovery trail brochure is available at the lake cafe or at the Whanganui i-Site.